New (to me) 4200. Just some questions...

Wesbo · May 21, 2006

Bought a 4200 (1285 hours) with turf tires and a 60" belly mower last week. My previous tractor experience was limited to a few dozen hours in the seats of old Fords and Masseys so this is quite a change to me. First pleasant surprise was putting it in 4WD and put-putting right up the {steep, wet} trailer ramps with zero drama...

First, I don't have a manual and the online one I found seems to indicate that that PTO engagement is independent of the clutch. This certainly seems to be the case, because when I flip the lever the mower shakes to life all at once. I kind of like the old Ford 3000 I have ridden because you can ease out on the clutch to engage the PTO gradually. Am I doing something wrong?

Second, third gear is a little balky. The other gears snick right in if I do my part and back of the throttle and am slow or stopped, but third takes a few tries. Is this common or do I need to adjust a linkage somewhere?

Third, the 60" mower that came with it is Deere, but the front casters have been removed because the front tires hit them. I can't find a model # on the mower, but I'm guessing that there is/was a MMM that fit my tractor properly (with front casters attached). Is it more likely that I have the wrong tires or do I have the wrong mower?

Thanks

Wesbo · May 21, 2006

Bought a 4200 (1285 hours) with turf tires and a 60" belly mower last week. My previous tractor experience was limited to a few dozen hours in the seats of old Fords and Masseys so this is quite a change to me. First pleasant surprise was putting it in 4WD and put-putting right up the {steep, wet} trailer ramps with zero drama...

First, I don't have a manual and the online one I found seems to indicate that that PTO engagement is independent of the clutch. This certainly seems to be the case, because when I flip the lever the mower shakes to life all at once. I kind of like the old Ford 3000 I have ridden because you can ease out on the clutch to engage the PTO gradually. Am I doing something wrong?

Second, third gear is a little balky. The other gears snick right in if I do my part and back of the throttle and am slow or stopped, but third takes a few tries. Is this common or do I need to adjust a linkage somewhere?

Third, the 60" mower that came with it is Deere, but the front casters have been removed because the front tires hit them. I can't find a model # on the mower, but I'm guessing that there is/was a MMM that fit my tractor properly (with front casters attached). Is it more likely that I have the wrong tires or do I have the wrong mower?

Thanks

Crabgrass · May 22, 2006

Congrats on th "new" 4200. I can help with a couple of your questions...

The PTO is completely independent of the clutch. I like to idle down the engine, engage the PTO, then rev it back up before moving out. Less shock to the drivetrain and attachment. Regardless you will want to get a manual, for safety's sake if no other. Your Deere dealer can order one.

For the mowing deck, check to see if the front tires are installed in the narrow or wide arrangement. On my 4400, the mowing deck does not hit if the tires in set narrow, but did when set wide. If the valve stems are on the outside then the tires are set narrow.

Crabgrass · May 22, 2006

Congrats on th "new" 4200. I can help with a couple of your questions...

The PTO is completely independent of the clutch. I like to idle down the engine, engage the PTO, then rev it back up before moving out. Less shock to the drivetrain and attachment. Regardless you will want to get a manual, for safety's sake if no other. Your Deere dealer can order one.

For the mowing deck, check to see if the front tires are installed in the narrow or wide arrangement. On my 4400, the mowing deck does not hit if the tires in set narrow, but did when set wide. If the valve stems are on the outside then the tires are set narrow.

plowrup · May 25, 2006

Which Transmission do you have? Sounds like a SynchReverser or Collar Shift (hope not)-here's a little from Deere:

Solution Summary: 4200 4300 4400 COMPACT UTILITY TRACTOR ( CUT ) GEAR SHIFT LEVER HARD TO SHIFT OR GETS STUCK IN A GEAR

Publication Date: Jan 16 2003

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

**Paper copies of solutions may not be the most current solutions**

Complaint or Symptom: Main shift lever is hard to shift from one gear to another.

Problem or Situation: Binding of the shift linkage due to one of the following;

Rough surface on the main shift lever where the ball joint attaches.
Paint or debris in bushing that main shift rod goes through.
Internal binding of the shift housing.
Bracket that main shift rod goes through is incorrect resulting in binding of the rod.
Solution: Resolve the linkage binding as follows;

Replace main shift lever LVU10351 (Key 1) if the surface if rough, also replace AM126329 shaft (Key 2) and M133451 bearing (Key 3).
Loosen the four bolts attaching the shift housing. Move the shift lever and leave it in a forward gear position.
Tighten the four bolts attaching the shift housing.
If the linkage still binds, replace main shift bracket AM126121

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Here's a possible answer on your Deck issue:

Solution Summary: HBI-M0-12074 4200 MFWD WITH 25X8.50-14 R3 TURF TIRES FRONT TIRE CONTACT MOWER DECK.

Publication Date: Jul 17 2002

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

**Paper copies of solutions may not be the most current solutions**

COMPLAINT:

THE ABOVE MODELS WERE BUILT WITH THE 2 WHEEL DRIVE RIMS.

SOLUTION:

CHANGE THE FRONT WHEEL RIMS TO AM128204. NOTE; WHEN USED WITH A MOWER

DECK, THESE RIMS CAN ONLY BE INSTALLED IN THE NARROW POSITION.IN THE

WIDE POSITION THE TIRE WILL ALSO RUB THE DECK

PARTS: PART NAME QTY PART NUMBER REMARKS

RIMS 2 AM128204

SERIAL NUMBER BREAKS

COLLAR SHIFT ( -LV4200C125567)

HYDRO ( -LV4200H121527)

plowrup · May 25, 2006

Which Transmission do you have? Sounds like a SynchReverser or Collar Shift (hope not)-here's a little from Deere:

Solution Summary: 4200 4300 4400 COMPACT UTILITY TRACTOR ( CUT ) GEAR SHIFT LEVER HARD TO SHIFT OR GETS STUCK IN A GEAR

Publication Date: Jan 16 2003

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

**Paper copies of solutions may not be the most current solutions**

Complaint or Symptom: Main shift lever is hard to shift from one gear to another.

Problem or Situation: Binding of the shift linkage due to one of the following;

Rough surface on the main shift lever where the ball joint attaches.
Paint or debris in bushing that main shift rod goes through.
Internal binding of the shift housing.
Bracket that main shift rod goes through is incorrect resulting in binding of the rod.
Solution: Resolve the linkage binding as follows;

Replace main shift lever LVU10351 (Key 1) if the surface if rough, also replace AM126329 shaft (Key 2) and M133451 bearing (Key 3).
Loosen the four bolts attaching the shift housing. Move the shift lever and leave it in a forward gear position.
Tighten the four bolts attaching the shift housing.
If the linkage still binds, replace main shift bracket AM126121

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Here's a possible answer on your Deck issue:

Solution Summary: HBI-M0-12074 4200 MFWD WITH 25X8.50-14 R3 TURF TIRES FRONT TIRE CONTACT MOWER DECK.

Publication Date: Jul 17 2002

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

**Paper copies of solutions may not be the most current solutions**

COMPLAINT:

THE ABOVE MODELS WERE BUILT WITH THE 2 WHEEL DRIVE RIMS.

SOLUTION:

CHANGE THE FRONT WHEEL RIMS TO AM128204. NOTE; WHEN USED WITH A MOWER

DECK, THESE RIMS CAN ONLY BE INSTALLED IN THE NARROW POSITION.IN THE

WIDE POSITION THE TIRE WILL ALSO RUB THE DECK

PARTS: PART NAME QTY PART NUMBER REMARKS

RIMS 2 AM128204

SERIAL NUMBER BREAKS

COLLAR SHIFT ( -LV4200C125567)

HYDRO ( -LV4200H121527)

Wesbo · May 25, 2006

Many thanks for the replies. Those are the tires on my tractor, so I'll try to figure out if the new rim solution will work. Looks like I'll be digging out some tools to tweak the shifter...

I have the gear transmission (SST)

Wesbo · May 25, 2006

Many thanks for the replies. Those are the tires on my tractor, so I'll try to figure out if the new rim solution will work. Looks like I'll be digging out some tools to tweak the shifter...

I have the gear transmission (SST)